The picturesque red Manistique East Breakwater Light,
located on the end of a concrete breakwater on the east side
of the harbor where the Manistique River flows into Lake
Michigan, welcomes travelers to the harbor town of
Manistique in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

The pier is located on the east side of Manistique
where you will find walkways leading visitors to the
beginning of the breakwater offering a good view of the
Manistique Lighthouse. You can park at Lakeview Park and
walk west on the boardwalk or turn south at the first road
east of the bridge to the parking lot near the marina and
take the path to the pier. While the lighthouse is not open
to the public, you can easily see it from the end of the
breakwater and get some great photos. On a good day you can
walk out to the lighthouse, but caution is strongly advised
as winds and waves can be treacherous.

People walking out to the
lighthouse.

The lighthouse is an active aid to navigation guiding
ships into the Manistique marina. Be sure to get an evening
or night view of the light shining out over Lake
Michigan.

The present Manistique Light was first lit on August
17, 1916 and is a bright red square tower with a black
lantern room. A black staircase leads from the pier to the
door of the lighthouse. Small round windows provide light to
the interior, but the tower is not open to visitors. This
light replaced the pierhead lights that were built in 1914.

Keepers Dwelling

A brick dwelling was built in 1916 on the
corner of Range Street and Washington for the
lighthouse keeper and the assistant
keeper.

The white stucco duplex is three stories
high with a red roof and is now a private
residence.

To view the keepers dwelling turn north on Range
Street (the first street east of the Hiawatha National
Forest Visitor Center), go 1 very short block north, and you
will see the home on the right (east) side of the street on
the corner. The first keeper of the Manistique Light was
Charles Corlette, serving from 1914 to 1920.

The Manistique Breakwater Light was originally
outfitted with a fourth order Fresnel lens, presently on
exhibit at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in
Manotowoc.

In 1969 the light was automated with a 300 mm acrylic
optic and the keepers dwelling was sold to be used as a
private residence.

When you drive through Manistique, stop for a while
and enjoy the wonderful Lake Michigan sand beach and
boardwalk and the picturesque lighthouse. You will find the
Manistique area inviting and it offers a variety of lodgings
and restaurants to make your stay enjoyable.

A Little
History

Manistique was an important shipping port in the late
1800's when logs were floated down the Manistique River from
logging camps to local sawmills, cut into boards, and the
lumber was shipped out to build cities near the lower part
of Lake Michigan. Piers were built on each side of the mouth
of the Manistique River where it emptied into Lake Michigan
to keep the river entrance open and to provide ships access
to this harbor of refuge during bad weather. The original
lights were simple markers on the end of the old pierheads
and were replaced in 1914 by a skeleton steel tower on the
west breakwater and a light on the west pierhead

Work began in 1915 on the construction of
the present lighthouse on the east breakwater
and the dwelling for the lighthouse keeper.

Prefabricated steel plates for the
lighthouse were shipped, bolted together, and
lagged to the 14' x 14' square foundation that
was built 36' from the end of the breakwater.

There was also a fog signal on the end of the pier
operated by compressed air. The square lighthouse was about
38' tall with a black lantern room at the top holding the
4th order Fresnel lens. The lighthouse was manned by a
keeper and one assistant.

Ship captains and travelers still look forward to
seeing the Manistique Breakwater Light welcoming them to the
friendly harbor town of Manistique, Michigan.

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